A La Carte Menu

Arrive at your vacation rental in style! For those guests who enjoy the finer things in life, we have curated an “a la carte” menu of luxurious delights: chocolates, candies, macarons, Champagne, cigars and flowers. Save yourself some time by pre-ordering any of these items and we will have them ready at your rental upon your arrival. Surprise your traveling partner with Champagne and flowers or a cigar and cognac for both of you! If you are craving something not on the menu, don’t hesitate to ask. We have access to the finest things in the world! Click on each of the photos below to see what we offer.

Chocolates, Confectionery & Macarons: Weapons of Mass Seduction

Long outgrown the Milky Way bar but don’t yet know what to graduate to next? You’re about to discover seduction in a box – our passionately curated selection of the finest, most subtle chocolates, confectionery and macarons France has to offer. Experience these and Juliette Binoche with her cacao-based love potions in Chocolat will look like child’s play.

Immediately upon arrival, save yourself time and sample some of the best Paris has to offer – or stock up for gifts upon your return. We charge a modest personal-shopper-and-delivery fee to procure these for you. Then you can embark on more leisurely researches to discover the history, time-honored methods, and stories behind your favorite bonbons.

Should you wish to order, please send us an email to info@holidays-europe-rentals.com or call us at +33 1 55 37 97 36

Too bad Hediard (pronounced Aye-Dyarr) was not established until 1854. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 -1821) might have found these a much quicker way of getting his opponents to say “merci!” From the signature red faux alligator gift box to the mouthwatering variety of chocolates inside, everything about Hediard chocolates bespeaks Paris tradition. A favorite among milk chocolate lovers, and Parisians of a certain gourmet stripe.

45€box

The Connoisseur: Chocolates Dalloyau. Minimum purchase order: 45.00€.

Formal dress optional: The refined elegance of the Dalloyau (pronounced Doll-Why-Oh) chocolate box is sure to bring fingertips to lips in a gesture of sheer gastronomic perfection. Small chocolates, some flecked with gold, ensure that you’ll only be eating a tiny morsel of the best Paris has to offer… each time.

La Maison du Chocolat (no pronunciation needed) offers a lovely box of individually seated delectables, each with a unique and subtle texture or shape defining its special ingredients. Each one is to be savored before moving on to the next! Sure to please your hopeless romantic. Grown men have been known to cry.

45€box

The Eroticist: Chocolates Paves. Minimum purchase order: 45.00€.

Though its name refers to cobblestones, Pavés’ chocolates make a path straight to heavenly delight. Truffle-like in their finish and consistency, they have one of the highest cacao contents available. You need someone else to put the first one to your lips. Then see what happens with the rest. Sweet devastation.

Heaven only knows where we’d be if Eve had gotten the word about these in the Garden of Eden. They’ve been known to make converts out of the most ardent and devout chocolate naysayers. Sacre bleu! Sense memory will haunt your mouth long after you’ve experienced these intensely flavorful fruit confections. Pineapple and fig will never seem the same once you’ve had these ungodly delights.

45€box

The Purist: Macarons Dalloyau. Minimum purchase order: 45.00€.

And when it’s time to cleanse the soul, what better than Dalloyau’s macarons? Sin-purging aside, you’ll wonder if there are any other cookies worth eating anywhere on the planet. These macarons are flecked with bits of their fruity fillings, the slight calculated imperfection yielding them even more authentic and delectable. Eat. Repeat. Please specify by mixed dozens: 1 for first-timers, 2, 3 or 4 for… the initiated.

45€box

The Perfectionist: Macarons Ladure. Minimum purchase order: 45.00€.

You really need to see the movie Kings of Pastry to fully appreciate what goes into the perfection of these lovely macarons. First, you’ll notice with these, as throughout France, that colorfully inspired though it may be, you never encounter blue food in any form. Macarons from Ladurée display a rainbow of warm, edible tones – each with its distinctive flavor – in a perfectly finished form and lovely, oh-so-French box.

45€box

Champagne, Alcohol & Caviar: Some Like It Bubbly…

Spoiled Rotten Selection of Champagnes, Vodkas and Fine Spirits

But which gets to walk home with the Caviar?

A great mystique has always surrounded the finest champagnes, spirits and vodkas. Proust once said that a vodka martini should be like drinking a cloud. Tiny bubbles… effervescent evanescence… all fleeting, it’s all gone almost as soon as you look at it. Well, nothing is forever, as the lady sang. But happily, the memory of these fine and ethereal boissons will last long after they dissipate on the palate.

The question is which gets to walk home with the Caviar? Two schools of thought on this. Champagne and Caviar have become almost inseparable, like Bonnie and Clyde, Laurel and Hardy, Romeo and Juliet. But there’s a school of thought that’s not to be ignored on this matter. (Note to self: for discussion at next cocktail party.) Champagne, fine bubbles. Caviar, more fine bubbles. Kind of self-cancelling? Building the argument (She’s starting to look interested, now): the residual sugar in most champagnes is going to fight the brininess of the caviar. So here’s another suggestion (and dear, this how the Russian aristocracy do it. How do I know? More on that later…): Vodka and Caviar – now there’s your match. Serve the vodka in a frozen flute. The experts say (no, dear, I’m no expert) that the combination of the vodka’s temperature and its oily texture is a perfect foil for the caviar’s flavor and texture. But you can still do fabulous, oh so unexpected pairings with the Champagne. Champagne and the most superb chocolate in Paris (see HFR’s chocolate selection for some good leads there); Champagne and crisp breaded fish cakes or Chinese egg rolls, Champagne and Truffles Popcorn.

Imagine enjoying all these pairings, just the pair of you, on the terrace of your fabulous pad overlooking illuminé en nuit.

Veuve Cliquot Champagne.

And the Trinity wouldn’t be complete without a woman, in this case the widow (veuve, in French) of François Cliquot. She decided she was going to bring champagne to the royal courts of Europe, and in 1811 she pioneered the modern-day techniques of the methode champenoise. Her champagne legacy lives on in the most delicate of flavors and a perfect balance of bubbles. Veuve Cliquot is the favorite of almost any woman who’s worth her coupe. Men like it too.

55€bottle

Ruinart Champagne.

Ruinart Champagne A shimmering golden color, this distinctive champagne is the epitome of freshness and balance. Its combination of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier grape varietals give it a tactile roundness and enduring length on the palate. A must-try for a first time très français experience of native champagne.

60€bottle

Ruinart Rosé Champagne.

The House of Ruinart requires you to verify that you are of age before entering their website. These are tastes only adults could appreciate. Ruinart says that the taste of Chardonnay grapes is the golden thread running through all their wines. When you’re ready to step into a different realm from the big brands, his gorgeous pink champagne will make any evening magical.

75€bottle

Moët & Chandon Champagne.

Two of the Trinity, Moët et Chandon is one of the world’s largest champagne producers – currently they put out 26,000,000 bottles each year – in addition to owning Louis Vuitton. Ooh la la! Quantity aside, Moët’s quality never flags: Queen Elizabeth II has issued a Royal Warrant for keeping her supplied with this finely ebullient boisson. Will never fail to impress, or celebrate.

50€bottle

KRUG Champagne.

One of the Holy Trinity of French champagnes (see below), Krug is one of the Reims-based champagne houses that established the Grand Marques. Krug’s Grande Cuvée stands alongside Moët et Chandon’s Grande Cuvée and Veuve Cliquot’s La Grande Dame as a crown jewel in the LVMH wine division. The Krug taste is distinctly okay and invariably dry, with very low sugar content. Use when you need a Wow.

165€bottle

Kaspia Vodka.

For making those cloudlike martinis, you can’t do better than this perfectly polished Polish vodka. The house of Kaspia puts out a line of caviar and smoked fish too… perfect for those impromptu apéros on your terrace.

45€bottle

Petrossian Vodka.

A little bit further east, you can find this Russian vodka, the most recognizable, crème de la crème brand of the bottled nimbus. Petrossian describes this vodka as having “extreme finesse, flavour and purity,” making it “a perfect match for caviar and smoked salmon.” Ooh-la-la.

55€bottle

Frapin VSOP Cognac.

This rare Premier Cru de Cognac, in its gorgeous bottle, boasts a unique content of 100% Grande Champagne grapes. The House of Frapin describes the flavor as harmonious, with length characteristic of Grande Champagne. Its bouquet is complex, fruity and floral, with a discreet hint of vanilla. This cognac can stand on its own – leave the Havanas in their smoke ring.

75€bottle

Cognac “Hors d’Age”: Cognac Daniel Bouju.

Artisanally produced in the tiny French village of St. Preuil, this hors d’Age cognac – that means it’s aged much longer than it needs to be, and thus ranks beyond the highest XO rating – is characterized by its fine bouquet and finesse, and the richness of its flavor. Distilled from Grande a Champagne grape, this liquid gold has been produced the same way since 1805.

80€bottle

Armagnac Cognac Delord VSOP.

This exquisite brandy, known as Bas Armagnac, comes from the DeLord cellar. Each bottle is individually sealed and gift boxed. Round and full flavored, with aromas of vanilla and a touch of wood, this Armagnac stands up to the best Cuban cigar. Drink with or without ice.

60€bottle

Petrossian Caviar.

Tiny bubbles of a slightly more substantial variety, caviar is the perfect balance for any of these fine spirits. This glorious Beluga comes from Russia, with love… a little crème fraîche and some blinis, soft lights… voila! A perfectly balanced meal.

75€tin

Champagne, Alcohol & Caviar: Some Like It Bubbly…

Spoiled Rotten Selection of Champagnes, Vodkas and Fine Spirits

But which gets to walk home with the Caviar?

A great mystique has always surrounded the finest champagnes, spirits and vodkas. Proust once said that a vodka martini should be like drinking a cloud. Tiny bubbles… effervescent evanescence… all fleeting, it’s all gone almost as soon as you look at it. Well, nothing is forever, as the lady sang. But happily, the memory of these fine and ethereal boissons will last long after they dissipate on the palate.

The question is which gets to walk home with the Caviar? Two schools of thought on this. Champagne and Caviar have become almost inseparable, like Bonnie and Clyde, Laurel and Hardy, Romeo and Juliet. But there’s a school of thought that’s not to be ignored on this matter. (Note to self: for discussion at next cocktail party.) Champagne, fine bubbles. Caviar, more fine bubbles. Kind of self-cancelling? Building the argument (She’s starting to look interested, now): the residual sugar in most champagnes is going to fight the brininess of the caviar. So here’s another suggestion (and dear, this how the Russian aristocracy do it. How do I know? More on that later…): Vodka and Caviar – now there’s your match. Serve the vodka in a frozen flute. The experts say (no, dear, I’m no expert) that the combination of the vodka’s temperature and its oily texture is a perfect foil for the caviar’s flavor and texture. But you can still do fabulous, oh so unexpected pairings with the Champagne. Champagne and the most superb chocolate in Paris (see HFR’s chocolate selection for some good leads there); Champagne and crisp breaded fish cakes or Chinese egg rolls, Champagne and Truffles Popcorn.

Imagine enjoying all these pairings, just the pair of you, on the terrace of your fabulous pad overlooking illuminé en nuit.

Cohiba (Long/Short Equity). Minimum order of 75.00€.

Considered Cuba’s flagship brand, Cohiba was only introduced in 1968, and didn’t become widely available until 1982. These Cohiba Robustos achieve a perfect balance of strength and flavor. Impeccable handcrafting and, most importantly, consistency in quality have made Cohiba the quintessential Cuban cigar.

75€Each

Epicure N-2 Hoyo de Monterrey (Fixed Income Arbitrage). Minimum order of 75.00€.

This exotic cigar is completely hand-made, with leaves coming from Vuelta Abajo, the Shangri-La of Cuban tobacco production. Another Robusto cigar, the Epicure No. 2 has a smooth strength, and its intense tobacco taste is blended with cocoa, cinnamon, and dried fruits.

75€Each

Romeo y Julieta (Mergers & Acquisitions). Minimum order of 75.00€.

Now made in a new, larger size, this elegant hand rolled cigar is sure to delight the Habano lover with its delicate mixing of passion and excellent craftsmanship. Those Romeo y Julieta clouds could be the spirit surrounding you… or they could just be love.

This classic Robusto is one of Cuba’s top-selling Habanos. Its strong, full-bodied flavor, exploring aromas of wood and spice in exquisite balance, are sure to bring out the explorer in you. Always crafted to perfection, the Partagas Serie D. No. 4 is guaranteed to please.

75€Each

Juan Lopez (Managed Futures). Minimum order of 75.00€.

Like all its brothers, the Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2 Robusto carries off subtlety of flavor with the greatest of ease. This cigar is extremely attractive to all levels of smokers because it’s so smooth.

75€Each

La Vie En Rose – Flowers and Flower Arrangements

La Vie En Rose – Flowers and Flower Arrangements

Economic historians cite 1637, the peak of Dutch Tulipomania, as the first speculative economic bubble. At that time, a single tulip bulb could sell for ten times the annual income of a skilled craftsman. No wonder the smart investor “goes long” on roses and orchids.

From Shakespeare to Stein and beyond, the rose has always held a fabled place in the house of love. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” wrote Will in Romeo and Juliet, and Gertrude’s “Rose is a rose is a rose,” with its dual language meaning (rose means pink in French), has baffled the olfactory-impaired since 1913, when it appeared in Sacred Emily.

That said, the Parisian rose is something special — a sweet globe of diminutive size and multitudinous petal layers. Like the fruits and vegetables of France, the flowers there are often smaller, but always more vivid and intense. Treat your senses to a lovely bouquet or arrangement of roses or orchids (not available all year ’round) or other fresh-cut Parisian flowers by ultra-sophisticated florist Autour d’Une Fleur.

You’ll be investing in art, design, and botanical magic to enjoy during your stay (a small delivery and handling fee will be added by HFR) – just let us know the temperature you want to set! And as always, if you have something in mind you don’t see below, don’t hesitate to ask and we will try to procure it.

Please Note: The flower arrangements shown here are seasonal selections and will vary according to the time of year.

Here are our best bets:

Orchid Arrangement (Capriccio). Minimum purchase order: 65.00€.

Roses are beautiful, but for the refined and subtle beauty of the seasoned traveler, orchids are the exotic sine qua non. With their enticing but never overpowering fragrance, orchids speak to a mature sensibility and charm. They symbolize a life well lived, many children, and profound thoughtfulness. This arrangement is a meditation unto itself.

65€each

Bouquet of Red Roses (Nocturne). Minimum purchase order: 75.00€.

Even though every child knows that “Roses are red, Violets are blue,” red roses were only introduced to Europe in the 1800’s from China. They’re the ultimate symbol of romantic love, life, and deep emotion. Featured in many a suggestive painting, the rose rouge is tied to Venus and Aphrodite, classical goddesses of love. Declare your passion and belief in the life-giving power of love with this classic European bouquet.

75€each

Pink Rose Arrangement (Sonata). Minimum purchase order: 65.00€.

Even though every child knows that “Roses are red, Violets are blue,” red roses were only introduced to Europe in the 1800’s from China. They’re the ultimate symbol of romantic love, life, and deep emotion. Featured in many a suggestive painting, the rose rouge is tied to Venus and Aphrodite, classical goddesses of love. Declare your passion and belief in the life-giving power of love with this classic European bouquet.

Pink roses of all shades have been around much longer than red roses… in fact, the pink rose is the oldest existing rose known to man (or woman). Handing her a dramatic Parisian bouquet of these pink and/or white (depending on availability) beauties declares your steadfast love, and your gratitude for hers. Or maybe there’s a petite mademoiselle in need of a little pick-me-up who’s not quite ready for red roses yet.